Saturday, February 1, 2014

ENGLAND v FRANCE: 6 Nations International Championship

01.02.2014

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Preview
The 6 Nations International Championship gets underway today. Wales will be looking to take the title for the second year in a row.

The clash between England and France is always one of the highlights of this competition. It is no matter that France finished last in this competition in 2013. This will be a titanic clash between two very good sides.

There is little to place between these two sides. England has the better recent efforts whilst France’s 2013 year was just short of a disaster. But put that to one side. make no mistake. France will be out to improve their record especially in front of their home crowd.

Last Five Encounters
23.02.2013 England 23-13 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
11.03.2012 England 24-22 in Paris (6 Nations)
08.10.2011 France 19-12 in Auckland (World Cup, Quarter-final)
26.02.2011 England 17-9 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
20.03.2010 France 12-10 in Paris (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: England 7th, France 8th
Europe Table: England 2nd, France 3rd

IRB Ranking Points
England 85.70, France 80.87

Prediction: A very, very close game.England by 2 points

Teams

2[1]

England

15   Michael Brown  London Harlequins
14   Jack Nowell Exeter Chiefs
13   Luther Burrell Northampton Saints
12   William Twelvetrees  Gloucester Rugby
11   Jonathan May Gloucester Rugby
10   Owen Farrell  Saracens
9   Daniel Care London Harlequins
8   William Vunipola  Saracens
7   Christopher Robshaw (Capt.) London Harlequins
6   Thomas Wood  Northampton Saints
5   Courtney Lawes  Northampton Saints
4   Joseph Launchbury  London Wasps
3   Daniel Cole  Leicester Tigers
2   Dylan Hartley  Northampton Saints
1   Joseph Marler  London Harlequins
       
16   Thomas Youngs  Leicester Tigers
17   Mako Vunipola Saracens
18   Henry Thomas Sale Sharks
19   David Attwood Bath Rugby
20   Benjamin Morgan  Gloucester Rugby
21   Lee Dickson  Northampton Saints
22   Bradley Barritt Saracens
23   Alexander Goode  Saracens
       
    HEAD COACH: Stuart Lancaster

5[1]

France

15   Brice Dulin  Castres Olympique
14   Yoann Huget  Aviron Bayonnais
13   Mathieu Bastareaud  RC Toulonnais
12   Wesley Fofona  ASM Clermont Auvergne
11   Maxime Médard Stade Toulousain
10   Jules Plisson Stade Français
9   Jean-Marc Doussain  Stade Toulousain
8   Louis Picamoles Stade Toulousain
7   Bernard Le Roux Racing-Metro 92
6   Yannick Nyanga  Stade Toulousain
5   Pascal Pape (Capt.) Stade Français
4   Alexandre Flanquart Stade Français
3   Nicolas Mas  US Arlequins Perpignan
2   Benjamin Kayser  ASM Clermont Auvergne
1   Thomas Domingo  ASM Clermont Auvergne
       
16   Dimitri Szarzewski  Racing-Metro 92
17   Yannick Forestier  Castres Olympique
18   Rabah Slimani  Stade Français
19   Yoann Maestri  Stade Toulousain
20   Antoine Burban Stade Français
21   Damien Chouly ASM Clermont Auvergne
22   Maxime Machenaud Racing-Metro 92
23   Gael Fickou Stade Toulousain
       
    HEAD COACH: Philippe Saint-André

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